French frigate Minerve (1794)

The Minerve was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy. She was captured twice by the British and recaptured once by the French, before being disposed of in 1814. She therefore served under four names:

Minerve, 1794–1795
HMS Minerve, 1795–1803
Canonnière, 1803–1810
HMS Confiance, 1810–1814

French service as Minerve
Her keel was laid in January 1792, and she was launched in 1794.
On 14 December she captured off the island of Ivica the collier Hannibal, which was sailing from Liverpool to Naples. However, eleven days later, HMS Tartar recaptured the Hannibal off Toulon and sent her into Corsica.
Minerve took part in combat off Noli. On 23 June 1795, she and the 36-gun Artémise engaged the frigates HMS Dido and Lowestoffe. She surrendered to the British, Artémise having fled, and was commissioned in the Royal...